Open face helmet in the UK?

[AceOfHearts]

Is it a good idea?

Currently I am riding around on my Enfield wearing this:



I know I shouldn't care what I look like, but I do

I keep feeling the need to get an open faced helmet but keep stopping myself from buying one as I value my lower jaw, plus I can imagine they get freezing cold in the UK. Do any of you guys ride in an open faced helmet, or can recommend a good looking full face that wouldn't look out of place? I can get over the jaw thing as i rarely seem to be going any faster than a cyclist, but the cold and practicalities i am unsure of.

I also keep hearing mention of the Biltwell Gringo, but I can't seem to find any in the UK and dont want to order anything that I can't try on first.

Opinions please

[Spanna]

I have a Bell Custom, which is comfy but only gets used on proper sunny days, like yesterday. I've never tried one, but the Davida pisspot is popular and meant to be great quality.

If you think you'll get cold, man up.

Or wear a scarf.

[VinceFox]

Never wear them, even on old stuff.

[MC Bodge]

These look good. Just don't fall off forwards.

[s3fella]

I've been riding the TL around in the sun with my open face motocross helmet and ray bans ! Only going steady, mind.

The bell customs are nice looking things and there are some with extended chin pieces worth looking at.

[RizzoTheRat]

Doesn't look as cool as a proper pisspot, but a Schuberth J1 gives you some chin protection

[anonymous-user]

Style never goes out of fashion......

[MC Bodge]

[RizzoTheRat]

I think you'd need a riot shield and baton to go with that one McB!

[anonymous-user]

RizzoTheRat said:

I think you'd need a riot shield and baton to go with that one McB!

and/or some KY and a GSOH.

[MC Bodge]

[HD Adam]

I wear an open face but I am behind a huuuuge fairing & windshield so that might have an effect.

Being a massive woofter as well, if it's too cold to wear the open face, I'm probably in the car anyway.

I don't dwell on what bits of me will bite the dust should I fall off as that would take the enjoyment out of riding tbh.

[AceOfHearts]

How can places make a helmet for £15

Not sure I would trust it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NITRO-X516-V-OPEN-FACE-M...

[anonymous-user]

AceOfHearts said:

How can places make a helmet for £15

Not sure I would trust it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NITRO-X516-V-OPEN-FACE-M...

Velly good best plice fank you.

[MC Bodge]

AceOfHearts said:

How can places make a helmet for £15

Not sure I would trust it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NITRO-X516-V-OPEN-FACE-M...

If you did crash, I wonder what the actual difference in outcome would be between wearing one of those and wearing a Bell Jet?

[GadgeS3C]

Bell, Davida and Roof are all good helmets. Been using a Roof Roadster, which has a flip down visor, for several years - works for me.

I know I'm outnumbered but I don't understand why anyone would want to ride a bike in a full face helmet - totally defeats the point of being out in the elements.

Cold - yes, can be but that encourages you to ride at sensible speeds when the sleet is hitting your face

As for safety, you're choosing to ride a bike, nuff said...

[AceOfHearts]

MC Bodge said:

AceOfHearts said:

How can places make a helmet for £15

Not sure I would trust it

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NITRO-X516-V-OPEN-FACE-M...

If you did crash, I wonder what the actual difference in outcome would be between wearing one of those and wearing a Bell Jet?

Something like this I imagine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LfEFhBelTY

[spoodler]

Only ever had one full face and gave it away as I hated the lack of peripheral vision and the claustrophobic feeling...
Six months back I bought a Davida 91 (which apparently isn't road legal despite being a far better lid than any other that I've owned)- it's a massive improvement on my last lid as it has the smallest shell available so doesn't catch the wind much and is really comfy. Also, for some reason it doesn't aggravate my tinnitus like most others. Was well worth paying around six times as much as I've ever previously spent...
It wont take long to get used to the cold although I know a few folk who suffer watery eyes, shades all year round help... what might catch you out is how hard a bee can feel at a hundred and twenty (or fifty in the case of the Enfield) or how a gravel truck can literally sandblast the skin from your face. You get a good suntan tho'...

[magpie215]

[Drek]

I have both but I wear the open face more often than not as I love the feel of air on my chops. Davida's are seriously nice bits of kit but command serious prices.